Many Colombian surgery quotes mention "one compression garment" or "post-op kit" and stop there. In practice, recovery from body procedures can involve garments in more than one stage, foams and boards, drains, prescription medications and follow-up care, and each one may be included, partly included, or billed separately. Ask for a written supply list with each item marked included or extra.
- "Faja included" usually means one garment. Ask how many, which stage, and whether a second stage is extra.
- Foams, lipo boards and abdominal boards are often separate purchases. Ask before you arrive.
- If drains are used, find out who removes them, when, and whether those visits are covered.
- Get the expected medication list in writing, including any blood-clot prevention, and whether you fill it yourself.
- Don't buy a faja online before the surgeon tells you the required style and how you'll be measured.
Medical note: This is general information, not medical advice. Your surgeon's post-op protocol is what you follow. Talk to a licensed clinician about your recovery and medications.
LINE 01The faja: how many, which stage, who fits it
A faja is a post-surgical compression garment. After liposuction, tummy tuck, BBL, arm lift and many breast procedures, surgeons commonly ask patients to wear compression for a period of weeks. The details vary by surgeon, which is exactly why "faja included" needs unpacking.
Questions to put to the clinic:
- How many garments are included? Most patients want at least one spare so they can wash and rotate. Ask whether a second is included or what it costs.
- Which stages? Some surgeons use a first-stage garment right after surgery and switch to a different style as swelling comes down. Ask whether the later stage is part of the quote.
- Who measures and fits it? A garment that's too tight or too loose is a problem. Ask whether the clinic fits it, or whether you'll be sent to a supplier.
- Is a specific brand or style required? If the surgeon wants a particular cut (for example, one with certain closures, a higher back, or arm coverage), get that in writing before you buy anything yourself.
- How long will you wear it? Ask for the expected duration, so you can plan replacements if needed after you fly home.
If you'd rather buy your own garment, ask the clinic for the exact specs and whether the surgeon will accept it. Some surgeons insist on their own first-stage garment and that's a reasonable clinical preference, as long as it's disclosed in the quote.
LINE 02Foams, lipo boards and abdominal boards
These are the items most often missing from a quote and then mentioned once you're in recovery.
| Item | What it's for | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Foam pads (espumas) | Placed under the garment to spread pressure more evenly over treated areas. | How many sets? Are replacements included? Will I need more at home? |
| Lipo / back board (tabla) | A rigid or semi-rigid board worn under the faja over the back or flanks. | Does my surgeon use one? Is it included? |
| Abdominal board | A board over the abdomen, often after liposuction or tummy tuck. | Same: used by this surgeon? Included or extra? |
| BBL pillow or positioning cushion | Helps with sitting and positioning after buttock procedures, according to the surgeon's instructions. | Is one provided? Is a specific type required? |
| Arm or bra garment | Specific compression for arm lift or breast procedures. | Is it a separate garment from the body faja? Included? |
Not every surgeon uses every item. The point isn't to demand all of them; it's to find out which ones your surgeon expects you to use, and who pays for them.
LINE 03Drains and drain removal
Some procedures, often tummy tuck, breast reduction, arm lift and some combined surgeries, may involve surgical drains that carry fluid away from the area while it heals. Other surgeons use alternatives or no drains at all, depending on the case. Whatever your surgeon's approach, the quote should answer:
- Will drains be used for my procedure? And if not, what's done instead?
- Who empties and records them? If you're in a recovery house, the nurse may handle this. If you're in a hotel or rental, you or a companion might, so ask for training.
- Who removes them, and where? Removal is usually done at a follow-up appointment. Ask whether that visit is included.
- What if they need to stay longer than expected? This affects your travel dates. Ask what happens if you're scheduled to fly before they're out.
A quote that includes drains but nothing about removal or follow-up. Drains tie you to the clinic for a period after surgery, which matters for both your budget and your flight.
LINE 04Post-op medications
Medications are one of the most inconsistent parts of Colombian quotes. Some clinics hand you a starter bag at discharge; many give you a prescription to fill at a pharmacy; some include certain drugs and not others. Ask for the expected medication list, and next to each, whether it's included or you buy it.
The list commonly covers categories such as pain relief, anti-nausea medication, and antibiotics when the surgeon prescribes them. For many body procedures, surgeons also assess your risk of blood clots and may prescribe preventive measures, which can include injectable medication or compression stockings. Whether that applies to you is a clinical decision, but you should know in advance whether it's planned and whether it's in the price.
- Ask whether medications are given as brand-name or generic, and whether you can bring any from home.
- Tell the surgeon and anesthesiologist about every medication and supplement you already take, so the post-op list doesn't conflict with it.
- If you have allergies, get them written on your chart and your prescription.
- Ask what to do if a medication causes side effects after the clinic closes for the day.
LINE 05The other small stuff
Individually small, these items add up, and a thorough quote will at least mention them:
- Wound care supplies: dressings, gauze, tape, scar products. Ask what's provided at discharge and what you'll need to buy.
- Post-op massages: some packages bundle lymphatic drainage sessions. Ask how many, who performs them and their training. Evidence on post-op massage varies, so treat sessions as a line item to verify, not as a reason to pick one clinic over another.
- Follow-up visits: how many are included, and is there a cost if you need an unscheduled one?
- Transport to follow-ups: if you're staying outside a recovery house, who gets you there?
- Replacement garments at home: if you'll still be in compression after you fly back, how do you get the right size?
LINE 06The supply ledger to request
Ask the coordinator to fill in a list like this, in writing. It turns "post-op kit included" into something you can actually compare between clinics.
- Faja, stage 1 (qty)INCL.?
- Faja, stage 2 (qty)INCL. OR EXTRA?
- Spare garment for washingINCL. OR EXTRA?
- Foam pads (sets)INCL. OR EXTRA?
- Back / abdominal boardUSED? INCL.?
- Drains + removal visitUSED? INCL.?
- Discharge medicationsLIST + INCL.?
- Clot prevention, if prescribedINCL. OR EXTRA?
- Dressings & wound careINCL. OR EXTRA?
- Post-op massages (qty)INCL. OR EXTRA?
- Follow-up visits (qty)STATED
LINE 07Red flags
"Full post-op kit" with no list. If the clinic can't tell you what's in it, you can't compare it.
Required purchases from a specific shop, revealed after you arrive. A surgeon preferring a supplier is fine. Finding out after surgery isn't.
No mention of follow-ups for drains. That's a cost and a travel-date problem.
Medications described as "standard" with no names. You should know what you'll be taking before surgery, not at discharge.
When a quote is thin on supplies, it isn't necessarily hiding anything. Coordinators often send a short version first. Ask for the long version, and save it with the quote.
LINE 08FAQ
How many compression garments do I need after surgery in Colombia?
That depends on your procedure and your surgeon's protocol, and many patients end up wanting more than one so they can wash and rotate. Ask the clinic how many garments are included, what stages they expect you to wear, and for roughly how long.
Can I bring my own faja instead of buying the clinic's?
Sometimes. Some surgeons want a specific style or fit for the first stage and will ask you to use the one they supply or recommend. Ask before you buy anything, and get the required style and measurement process in writing.
Are drains always used, and is removal included?
No. Whether drains are used depends on the procedure and the surgeon. If they are, ask who removes them, when, where, and whether those follow-up visits are covered by the quote.
Are post-op medications included in the surgery price?
Some packages include a starter set of medications; many do not and give you a prescription to fill at a pharmacy. Ask for the list of expected medications and whether you buy them yourself.
Are lymphatic massages part of the quote?
Some packages bundle a number of post-op massage sessions and some don't. Ask how many sessions, who performs them and what their training is. Treat them as a line item to verify rather than a selling point.